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I have a 2011 Mac Book Pro. It has the original Snow Leopard on it, and currently OSX 6.8.

I was trying to update a Garmin device recently, and was told I need to upgrade to 7.0 or greater in order to get any further updates. To be honest, I've never had one single problem with my laptop, and I cringe at the thought of messing with the OS. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Now for the dumb questions:

How far forward should I upgrade? Just 7.0 or higher? I have no idea of the best way to go about this.

Any help here will be appreciated. If I need to provide more info, I can do that.

How far forward should I upgrade? Just 7.0 or higher? I have no idea of the best way to go about this.

Probably the most important thing to consider when upgrading a computers OS is...will any software or hardware you currently use become non-compatible with the upgraded OS. AND...the further you upgrade the OS...the greater the chance that some software (apps) or hardware will no longer work.

So if you currently have 10.6.8 installed...and the most current Mac OS version is 10.9.2...if you go all the way to 10.9.2 you could have some issues. I'm saying this "in a vacuum"...since I do not know your computing situation.

If you don't have any special apps installed (other than the Garmin)..and if you don't have other external hardware (other than the Garmin)...then upgrading to 10.9.2 could be trouble free.

Bottom line. If you have some apps installed (things that you may have purchased & installed)...then you need to check what versions of the Mac OS these app versions are compatible with. To do this...check this website:

- Too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs- Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some slow computer tips: Speedup- Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space- Apple Battery Info. Battery

Good information, and I will take a good look at any installed software and applications I have and check them through that link. I assume that if they are not compatible, it would just be a matter of downloading a compatible one (if available)? No external hardware I can think of except the Garmin and a printer.

Good information, and I will take a good look at any installed software and applications I have and check them through that link. I assume that if they are not compatible, it would just be a matter of downloading a compatible one (if available)?

Yes…that's pretty much it. Of course if these are "pay-for" apps (not free)…then you have to pay for the newer version. And for folks that use expensive apps like Adobe Creative Suite…this can be expensive.

Originally Posted by neesywah

No external hardware I can think of except the Garmin and a printer.

That's good. Printers are a common external peripheral…and sometimes there can be issues. But many times (if the printer is not extremely old)…all that is needed is an updated driver. But you may have no problems at all. Just mentioning so you know.

- Nick

- Too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs- Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some slow computer tips: Speedup- Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space- Apple Battery Info. Battery

And for example PowerPC applications will not run later than Snow Leopard. The most notable is Office 2004. Later 2008 and 2011 are written in Intel code so all good. Gon through the Application Folder and see what is PowerPC and if it can be updated.

Hang on to those original install discs like grim death! Using OS X.7 or later make a bootable USB thumb drive before running Installer!

Thanks Nick! I'm pretty sure most of my stuff is either free or relatively inexpensive. So that shouldn't be an issue. I'm still working through that link you sent - amazing how much software and apps are out there!

Harry, I looked in my Apps folder and don't see anything called PowerPC. But I do have Office 2011, so I should be good! Thank you for that update!

And for example PowerPC applications will not run later than Snow Leopard. The most notable is Office 2004.

I recently discovered that Microsoft tech support is no longer answering questions on 2004. So, since I couldn't seem to reinstall it after a clean install of OSX, I upgraded to 2011. It was inevitable anyway.

nessywah download Mavericks and before running burn to an 8GB or more USB thumb drive. Backup your MBP to an external drive. Boot from the thumb drive, format the hard drive, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format and run the Installer. Use Migration Assistant to transfer everything over from the external. Here is how to make the bootable thumb drive:-